Assessing What Can’t Be Seen: Why Brain Scans Aren’t the Key to ADHD

August 6, 2024 | Dr. Joel L. Young

The brain is a complicated organ. Despite our progress towards exploring the bottoms of oceans and the vast reaches of space, we are still yet to fully understand the final frontier of our own body: our brain. Since its first diagnosis in 1902, ADHD has been a neurological condition with a hotly debated past; mainly, the way in which we diagnose it.

The advent of brain scanning technology such as MRI and CT has allowed us to diagnose conditions like brain tumors, epilepsy, etc. However, the mechanism of action and individualized nature of ADHD makes providing accurate diagnoses that much more involved. Simply diagnosing ADHD with a brain scan alone is not a viable option.

ADHD is human.

Regardless of our awareness of its presence, ADHD is a trait that has likely existed since the early days of humanity. While it was likely less of a problem for humans that were constantly moving and doing stimulating tasks to survive, ADHD becomes far more noticeable in modern times. Although the exact conditions vary from brain to brain, ADHD generally involves the neurotransmitter dopamine, and it not reaching the right places inside the brain.

Dopamine is the brain’s stimulant and “reward” chemical, and it is a key aspect in everyday function. Dopamine helps regulate sleep, motivation, focus, appetite, and of course, happiness. In the healthy brain, dopamine is naturally produced and then transported to different areas, where it is consumed by special receptor cells. In a brain with ADHD, one or more of these processes can be interrupted, breaking the chain.

While sometimes dopamine is produced in insufficient quantities, other times dopamine can’t be transported successfully. It is also possible for the dopamine receptor sites to be faulty altogether. This level of variation within the same condition leads to multiple different ADHD presentations. Lack of dopamine also has a hand in multiple other psychiatric disorders, with new relationships being discovered every day.

It has been speculated that 20 to 30% of ADHD sufferers have Major Depressive Disorder, 7 to 8% have Bipolar I with depressive mood phases, and as many as half of all ADHD patients have an anxiety disorder. These coexisting conditions will oftentimes worsen the overall inattention symptoms, and patients with comorbid disorders are given an incomplete diagnosis or misdiagnosed entirely. Furthermore, depending on the age and gender of the patient, getting an accurate and complete diagnosis becomes even more complicated. Considering all the contributing factors of ADHD, the medical community’s ongoing struggle to accurately diagnose ADHD is ever more prevalent.

Not quite there yet.

Unlike ADHD, many other neurological conditions are caused by identifiable structural or electrical changes in the brain. Milestone achievements in psychiatric medicine, such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and EEG (electroencephalogram), are versatile diagnostic tools that lead many professionals to consider them suitable for diagnosing ADHD.

While there is some merit to the belief that ADHD brains exhibit distinct structural and electrical patterns, conclusive proof and consistent results using brain scans alone have yet to be achieved. Currently, brain scans are not suitable for diagnosing ADHD, but future advancements in brain scan technology may one day make them appropriate for this purpose.

Unique problem, unique solution.

While the efficiency and standardization normally observed when using brain scans isn’t applicable when diagnosing ADHD, all hope is not lost for providing accurate diagnoses for patients. Rather, testing for ADHD should instead reflect the deeply personal experience of someone living with the condition. That is why the optimal method for diagnosing ADHD is through personalized testing with tried and true methods, like that of the MindMetrix comprehensive assessment.

ADHD testing is considered to be the only consistent method of diagnosing ADHD, and is less invasive and is significantly less costly than a brain scan. Furthermore, the testing experience can even be performed remotely, while still providing a tailored and customized experience.

Unlike other testing methods, MindMetrix screening tests for ADHD alongside various other psychiatric disorders, as opposed to testing for a single problem at once. MindMetrix closely examines comorbid condition relationships on a deeper level. This enables the comprehensive testing report to reveal the complex interplay between numerous conditions, which cannot be identified by brain scans or other methods.

Following the completion of the streamlined assessment experience, the final steps are to connect with a provider capable of interpreting the diagnostic results, and to finally achieve the necessary help. It is through adaptive and tailored questioning that MindMetrix is able to elevate a patient’s diagnostic experience, providing peace of mind and relevant solutions, restoring quality of life to patients and their families.

Conclusion

Everyone is unique in possessing subtleties and nuances; the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD and other neurological conditions should be regarded with such individuality. While brain scans are a versatile tool with various applications in the medical world, ADHD and its various neurochemical interactions and tendency to coexist with other conditions means scanning isn’t reliable enough for patients.

Refined screening assessments like MindMetrix stand as the few methods of diagnosis support capable of encapsulating the entirety of a patient’s struggles. With the help of a provider, patients can take control of their symptoms and better understand the forces at play, allowing for a complete and comprehensive treatment plan.

Sources

1. William Dodson, M. D. (2024, April 7). The ADHD – depression link: Symptom parallels and distinctions. ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-depression-link-symptoms-diagnosis-treatments/#:~:text=Comorbidity%20studies%20vary%20widely%2C%20but,type%201%20depressive%20mood%20phases

2. Ellis, R. (2023, September 25). ADHD and anxiety: Understanding the link and how to treat. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/anxiety-adhd-link